‘Train Like A Champion’ to be based at two venues in the London Borough of Redbridge

Train Like A Champion will be based at Cricklefield Stadium in Ilford and Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford Bridge (pic: Dalton Grant Academy)

Dalton Grant, the 1998 Commonwealth Games high jump champion, is launching the ‘Train Like A Champion’ programme that hopes to see aspiring athletes continue to further their education alongside training.

Based at the Cricklefield Stadium in Ilford and at Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford Bridge, the initiative is offering both 12-week and 12-month programmes to support athletes with both their training and their studies.

The first year of the initiative will see the programme of traineeships for aspiring athletes, while later years will offer those signed up with a chance to study for their BTEC diplomas.

Grant has already secured support from the University of East London, one of the leading universities for athletics in the country, for the programme, with the hope the athletes will go on to study at the university once they have completed their programme.

Dalton Grant has helped football Matthias Fanimo, who played for Hornchurch before moving to Slovenia with Drava Ptuj (pic: George Phillipou/TGS Photo)

The 52-year-old has experience of working in other fields outside of athletics such as football, having helped former West Ham United trainee Mathias Fanimo overcome a series of injuries before securing a move to he Slovenia with Drava Ptuj.

Grant also previously helped football club Dagenham & Redbridge on a part-time basis, but the 1994 European indoor high jump champion is excited to help to next generation of athletes progress not just in sport, but in their studies too.

“I want ‘Train Like A Champion’ to give a chance to those athletes who’ve not been given a chance yet,” he said.

“Some might have been let go from sports academies or let down in sports some way and they might have had a tough time because of it.

“It can take time to come back from these disappointments, but you can often find out more about yourself because of it.

“Sometimes to succeed, you have to know how to handle yourself and hopefully we can develop their sports intelligence through the academy.

“I want to use my experience to help them understand the techniques involved in sprinting and athletic exercise, as well as how to deal with how pressure situations and help them with their studies.”

*A talent ID evening, where further information about the ‘Train Like A Champion’ programme will be given, will take place at Cricklefield Stadium on October 25. Sign-in will run from 5.30-6pm for a 6.15pm start, with the even finishing by 8pm. For more information about the event or the programme, visit daltongrantacademy.world or email trainlikeachampion@daltongrantacademy.world.